Much Ado About Nothing Deception Analysis

In William Shakespeare’s comical play “Much Ado About Nothing” it is easily said that trickery and deceit are major themes portrayed throughout the story. With the intense use of deception, it becomes hard to realize whether the deceit was an intentional or righteous act. While using deception the play keeps anyone who comes to read it interested and entertained. Throughout the play there are multiple times that the theme is being used for malicious reasons, however it is also evident that it is used for ethical and logical reasons. These themes lead to love and romance distinctly, considering that most deception used all through the play is unfortunate. Deception and trickery are most evident, in the interaction between Beatrice and Benedick.

This is portrayed when Leonato and Hero devise a plan to trick Beatrice and Benedick. Leonato knows the truth behind Beatrice’s feeling when he says, “ “By my troth, my lord, I cannot tell what to think of it, but that she loves him with an enraged affection, it is past the infinite of thought” (2.3.106-109). He is expressing that Beatrice has passionate love for Benedick, but no one will understand the way she shows it. Leonato, Claudio, and the Prince intentionally talk about Beatrice, which they know will make Benedick eavesdrop. Claudio tell Leonato and the Prince, “ Hero thinks surely she will die, for she says she will die if he love her not, and she will die ere she make her love known, and she will die if he woo her rather than she will bate one breath of her accustomed crossness” ( 2.3; 179-183). He says that Beatrice says that she will die if he doesn’t love her, and that she’ll die before she tells him. The Prince agrees with him when he states, “She doth well. If she should make tender of her love, ’tis very possible he’ll scorn it, for the man, as you know all, hath a contemptible spirit” (2.3; 184-186). He explains that she’s right to want to hide her love because Benedick will probably insult